Knife sharpener



y 2, 1929- J. w TEITEL 1,719,345

KNIFE SHARPENER Filed Jan. 30, 1926 Patented July 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAY WOOLF TEITEL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

KNIFE SHARPENER.

Application filed January 30, 1926, Serial No. 85,038, and in Great Britain December 17, 1925.

This invention refers to improvements in or relating to knife Sharpeners for sharpening cutlery and more especially cutlery ofthe stainless or plated variety. The invention has more particular reference to knife sharpeners of the kind in which a plurality of sharpening elements are fixed or adjustably secured in a holder or handle in staggered relationship to each other so as to cross each other at an acute angle when viewed in end elevation.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a knife sharpener of improved and simplified construction and wherein the sharpening elements will not only present a larger surface to the cutlery being sharpened, but can be adjusted when worn.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood and more readily carried into effect it is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying draw ings, in which Figure '1 is a side view of a knife sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of said sharpener;

Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation thereof showing the arrangement of the sharp- 0 ening elements;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating slightly modified methods of securing the sharpening elements in their holders;

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are detail perspective views illustrating suitable sections of sharpening elements;

Figure 10 is a side view of a sharpening device constructed in accordance with the present invention and provided with twin clamps whereby the same may be attached to a bench or the like;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a simplified form of portable knife sharpening device, and

Figure 12 is a perspective View of the base piece and end cover plates.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the end plates for the form shown in Figure 10.

Throughout the various figures of the drawings like reference letters are used to denote corresponding parts so far as practicable.

Now according to the present invention I provide a knife sharpener of the kind reerred to in which a plurality of steels of rectangular, oval, or lenticular cross-section are adapted to be clamped in a flat holder by means of a clamping bar, screw, or the like so that they will present large cutting surfaces and so that they can be turned end for end, or reversed when worn.

As shown and in carrying the present invention into effect the sharpening elements or steels w are adjustably secured in an inner holder 6 carried in an outer frame 0 which is provided with a handle d. The said steels are preferably of rectangular cross-section, as shown in the drawings, al-

though they may, if desired, equally well be formed of oval or lenticular cross-section as shown, respectively, in Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings, thus in all cases resenting a considerably larger cutting sur ace to the knife or the like to be sharpened than with steels of round cross-section. Preferably a pluralityof steels are employed on each side of the holder, two being shown in most of the figures of the drawings, and with such an arrangement it is possible to provide a continuous sharpening surface of considerable length comprising the full width of the four steels at their point of intersection. The steels a are adjustably secured to the flat surfaces of their holder 1), and the connection may conveniently be effected by means of a separate longitudinal clamping bar or strip a, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings; by means of a screw f acting in conjunction with pressed-up portions of of the metal of the holder d, as in F igure 4; by the provision of turned-up lugs or cars 65 and a set screw f, as in Figure 5; or by means of a plurality of set screws alone, as in Figure 6. In the particular construction illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, the holder b is of V-shaped crosssection, being bent and shaped from a single piece of metal which is bent and clamped together by screws 9 or rivets so as to provide longitudinal tubular portions h for the reception of fixing screws '5 as hereinafter de scribed, and the clamping bar or strip e is provided with pressed-out portions j adapted to accommodate the steels a and with turned-over flanges or terminal portions is adapted to embrace the side edges of the holder. These two clamping bars or strips 6 are preferably secured in position by locking means such as the set screw Z, andthe whole assembly, including the holder Z, the steels e, and the liars, 1s adapted ta ta housed in the outer frame 0 which is suitably shaped or grooved at its lower portion to co-operate with or receive the tubular portions it of the holder 6, and turnedoverat its upper portions to engage with or provide a shield for the splayed-out upper portions of the said holder 6 and the st-eels a. hen thus assembled the whole of the parts described are adapted to be secured in position by means of end cover plates m which are turned up from a flat base-piece a and held in position by means of screws 2' which pass through the saidfend cover plates m and engage the internally screw-threaded holes of the tubular portions It of the holder 6. These-end. cover plates are also provided -with vertical slots ,0 which serve as guides for the cutlery beingsharpened and prevent the same I from being drawn or pushed through thedevice at any but a correct angle for sharpening." 1 In the modified construction illustrated in Figure-10 01 the drawings, the; whole sharpening deviceis provided with a pair of clamps p by means of which it may be secured to a bench'or the like, thereby providing a knife-sharpener which will be found to be especially: suitable for use in restaurants and such places. In this particular construction,the frame 0 is ofslightly modified construction, being splayed outwardly atgits lower-end: asshown at c, and provided with, a downwardlyturned flange to cooperatewith downwardly flanged portions g provided on a lower-base plate 1". The upper horizontal portions 5. of the clamps p are adapted tobe held between-the late 1" and the: flanged portions .0 .of the .rame' c by meansof bolts t and nuts u. In this. con struction the. end. platesm are stopped oil" short andv do not extend;up to form guides, but the.- fixing screws i pass, as before, vthrough said end {plates into the lower tubularportionsjz, oftheholder b. The plate n carrying the end plates m isinjthis instance connected to the base plate 1" by means of the screws 2'.

In the further slightly modified construc ,tion illustrate-din Figure 11, steels a, of

either ofthegcross-sections. illustrated in the r wing ar ar a ged d r tl in .a-

holder h comprising two shaped longitudinal members held together by boltsw. These side members of the holder. 6 areshaped out, as shown at a to accommodate the steels a, and the arrangement is suclnthat when the two parts are tightly clamped together the steels will beheld in staggered relationship toeach othei and so as. to cross at an acute angle as in, the case of the other Iconstructions. Co nve'niently a suitable and inexpensive form of guide and projection for the upper edgesof the steels maybe pro- .vided-by securing small stripsof metal 3 between the two parts of the holder and bending round their upper portions as shown at to lie over the upper ends of the steels. In this particular construction the two pertions of the holder 5 are secured together in a short handle 12, thereby providing a simple and inexpensive sharpening device also presenting a comparatively long cutting surface to the cutlery to be sharpened.

' It will be noted that in all of the construc tions hereinbefore described, it is possible to renew the actual cutting surface by simply removing the outer frame and loosening the steels and then pushing thorn further dewn. In this way quite a short length of steel, such as, that shown, can bechanged in position from time to time so as to very materially prolong the life of the knife sharpener. Further, the steels when worn at one end can be reversed end for end and also turned back to front whilst at all times presenting a considerable length of sharpening surface to the cutlery.

that I claim is x 1. A knife sharpener comprising a plurality of steelsarranged in opposed pairs, the steels of the respective pairs being relatively inclined and crossing at the sharpening point, each steel having a sharpening surface materially exceeding the thickness of the steel, andholding means for each pair of steels to permit the steelsto be moved longitudinally or reversed at will, thesteels at the sharpening point presenting a substantially uninterrupted sharpening area .commensurate withthe combined width of sharpener, and steels held in the offset-s of the respective clamping bars, whereby said steels meet at the sharpening point on divergent lines with substantial 'edge contact throughout the sharpening area,

3,, A knife sharpener comprising a frame, a steel holder"rernovably "secured in the lower end of the frame and comprising plates arranged on divergent planes above the holding means, bar removably eooperating with each plate and formed with offsets to clamp a plurality of steels to such plate, the offsets of one bar being interposed relative to the offsets of the-other bar trans- V versely of the sharpener, steels held in the olfsets of the, respective clamping bars, whereby said steels meet at the sharpening point on divergent lines with substantial edge Contact throughout the sharpening area, and cover plates'overlying the ends of the frame and held in place by the securing means for the holder, said cover plates being slotted to permit the introduction and operation of the implement being sharpened.

at. in a knife sharpener, a frame, a holder removably secured in the frame and comprising a plate formed intermediate its ends to present a longitudinal bore and secured together above the bore to present an upright portion, the portions of the plate above said upright portion being projected on divergent lines, a clamping bar cooperating with each divergent portion to removably secure a plurality of steels thereto, steels held by such clamping plate, and threaded members cooperating with the bore of the holder and With the frame to secure the holder in position.

5. In a knife sharpener, a frame, a holder removably secured in the frame and comprising a plate formed intermediate its ends to present a longitudinal bore and secured together above the bore to present an upright portion, the portions of the plate above said upright portion being projected on divergent lines, a clamping bar cooperating with each divergent portion to relnovably secure a plurality of steels thereto, steels held by sueh clamping plate, and threaded members cooperating with the bore of the holder and with the frame to secure the holder in position, the upper ends of the frame being turned inwardly to overlie and protect the upper ends of the steels.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name.

J AY VVOOLF T EITEL. 

